Feeling a Brain Drain?

Power Up with Acetyl L-Carnitine!

Feel like your memory has been checking out lately? Age-related forgetfulness is normal, but there are things you can do to bring your memory back into check and boost your brain power. Supplementing with acetyl L-carnitine is one of them.

Acetyl L-carnitine is similar in form to L-carnitine and has some similar functions, such as being involved in the metabolism of food into energy. Like carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine helps to shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria of the cells where they are turned into energy. Besides cellular energy production, acetyl Lcarnitine has become a central focus in neurodegenerative disease research.

The attached acetyl group makes it especially powerful at optimizing brain function. This is because it has the ability to cross the bloodbrain barrier, entering blood circulation in the brain where it acts as a powerful antioxidant, protecting brain cells from deterioration. The acetyl group also contributes to the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, a critical player in nerve and muscle communication, concentration, memory, and learning. It is also suggested that because acetyl L-carnitine is structurally similar to acetylcholine, it may have similar actions in the nervous system.

Several double-blind clinical trials suggest that acetyl L-carnitine delays the progression of cognitive decline. In one double-blind study in Italy, 236 elderly patients with mild senility were given either 1,500 mg of acetyl L-carnitine or a placebo. The acetyl L-carnitine group showed significant improvements in memory and cognition compared to the controls.

Acetyl L-carnitine's role in supporting mental function may improve memory, attention span, and mental performance in the "average" brain as well as in those with brain impairment. It is believed that acetyl L-carnitine improves mental function by enhancing cell membrane stability, energy production, and nerve transmission.

Supplementation with acetyl L-carnitine can also improve energy metabolism in many organ systems, including the nervous system. In addition to improving mental function and energy metabolism, acetyl L-carnitine has also been shown to improve insulin response in animal studies and has shown to have a positive effect on various heart conditions by improving energy metabolism in the heart.

Like many other nutrients, levels of acetyl Lcarnitine decrease with advancing age, making supplementation more important. Most research involving acetyl L-carnitine uses 500 mg, three times per day.

References available on request.